On the 111th birth anniversary of Dakshayani Velayudhan, Kerala reflects on the life of a significant figure in modern India. Dakshayani was the only Dalit female member of the Constituent Assembly that framed the Constitution of India. She is also the first Dalit woman to pass the tenth standard and graduation. She is also the first Dalit woman legislator from Kerala (Cochin Legislative Council, 1945).

Born on 4 July 1912 in Mulavukad near Kochi, her life and politics were a constant battle against an unwavering caste system. Historians, including Malayalis, are widely criticised for overlooking the life of Dakshayani, who was a torch bearer of social reforms in Kerala.

Belonging to the Pulayar community, Dakshayani battled all kinds of social taboos to receive education. In a system supervised and tailored for ‘upper castes’, Dakshayani became a beacon of hope for Dalits in the state. Amidst many disappointments, she completed her BSc Chemistry course at Maharaja's College. Later, she joined a teachers' training course at Madras University. Dakshayani turned the tides in her favour and created a persona that was hard to ignore, even by those who opposed her admission in the first place. 

Dakshayani was also the first woman from her community to wear an upper cloth while admitted to school. 

Between 1946 and 1952, she served as a member of the Cochin Assembly and the Provisional Parliament of India. In Parliament, she often sided with BR Ambedkar on several matters, despite being a staunch follower of Gandhian principles. 

Following her brief stint in New Delhi, she tried to return to active politics by contesting the general elections of 1971 from the Adoor Lok Sabha constituency but failed to make an impact.

She died in July 1978 at the age of 66.